Sunday, December 4, 2016

Is China the largest economy? A historic exchange with Mohamed El-Erian

Mohamed El-Erian

To know the world we are living in now and get an idea of the world we will be living in tomorrow, it is helpful to look at the world economy and its composing parts, i.e. countries and companies.

Sure, you may also look at and try to understand the political and cultural climate we are living in now. But in this post I will only look at the GDP figures of the 10 largest countries in terms of their GDP.

Below is an article that tells us what are the 10 largest economies at this moment, and what countries are likely to be at the top in four or more years. The country figures are presented with a few observations by the author, Prableen Bajpai.

I will conclude this long post at the bottom with an exchange I once had with Mohamed El-Erian.

When it comes to the top 10 national economies around the globe, the
order may shift a bit, but the key players usually remain the same, and
so does the name at the head of the list. The United States has been the
world’s biggest economy since 1871. But that top ranking is now under
threat from China.

Since it initiated market reforms in 1978, the Asian giant has achieved economic growth
averaging 10% annually (though it’s slowed recently) and, in the
process, lifted almost half of its 1.3 billion population out of poverty
and become the undisputed second-largest economy on Earth. China is
estimated to pull ahead of the U.S. steadily in the following years,
taking over the lead position as the world’s largest economy; in fact,
in its October 2012 World Economic Outlook report, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) would outpace that of the U.S. as early as 2017. Using another measure known as purchasing power parity (PPP), it already has. Specifically, China’s GDP (based on 2005 PPP) is forecast by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) at $15.26 trillion for 2016, exceeding the forecasted U.S. GDP of $15.24 trillion for the very first time.

Will It Even Matter?
Only for bragging rights! With a population less than one-fourth that
of China, the U.S. is still projected to remain one of the world’s most
prosperous economies, and still the far ahead in terms of per capita GDP, which reflects living standards and quality of life for a nation’s residents. Even so, it throws an interesting light on the whole subject of GDP and global economies.

Why Is GDP Important?
The GDP of a country provides a measure of the total monetary value
of all the goods and services it produces during a certain time period,
most commonly a year. This is an important statistic that indicates
whether an economy or growing or contracting. In the United States, the
government releases an annualized GDP estimate for each quarter and also
for an entire year; it makes a preliminary estimate, based on the
initial information it has, and then makes a second estimate and a final
one as more information flows in.
A country's GDP is essentially a measure of the health and size of
its economy. Countries with healthy economies tend to produce more goods
and have higher GDPs, and could therefore be said to be the most
productive. A growing GDP represents expansion within a country's
economy, signaling that it is in the process of becoming more
productive.
Providing a quantitative figure for GDP helps a government make
decisions such as whether to stimulate the economy by pumping money into
it, in case the economy is not growing and needs such stimulus.
And in case the economy is getting heated, a government could also act
to prevent it from getting overheated. The US government, for example,
makes
Businesses can also use GDP as a guide to decide how best to expand or contract their production and other business activities. And investors also watch GDP since it provides a framework for investment decision-making.

Types of GDP
There are different ways to calculate GDP. Nominal GDP
is the total value of all the finished goods and services produced
within a country’s borders in a specific time period, evaluated at
current market prices in its local currency. But GDP can also be calculated based on purchasing power parity (PPP), which is essentially the implied exchange rate at which the currency of one country would have to be converted into that of another country to buy an identical basket of goods and services in each. One of the best-known examples of PPP is the “Big Mac” index,
published by The Economist magazine, which calculates simplified PPP
exchange rates based on the popular McDonald’s sandwich. The biggest
advantages of PPP exchange rates is that they have greater stability
over time as compared to more volatile market exchange rates, and they
provide a better estimate of consumers’ purchasing power in developing nations.
As a general rule, developed countries have a smaller gap between
their nominal GDP (i.e., current prices) and GDP based on PPP. The
difference is greater in developing countries, which tend to have a
higher GDP when valued on purchasing power parity basis.
Another method of analyzing a country's productivity is by
calculating its GDP per capita, which is accomplished by simply dividing
its GDP by its population. This gives an indication of how productive,
on average, each citizen is.

United States
The U.S. economy remains the largest in the world in terms of nominal
GDP. The $18.5 trillion U.S. economy is approximately 24.5% of the
gross world product. The United States is an economic superpower that is
highly advanced in terms of technology and infrastructure and has
abundant natural resources. However, the U.S. economy loses its spot as
the number one economy to China when measured in terms of GDP based on
PPP. In these terms, China’s GDP is $21.3 trillion and the U.S. GDP is
$18.5 trillion. However, the U.S. is way ahead of China in terms of GDP per capita (PPP) – approximately $57,294 in the U.S. versus $15,423 in China.

China
China has transformed itself from a centrally plannedclosed economy
in the 1970s to a manufacturing and exporting hub over the years. The
Chinese economy overtook the U.S. economy in terms of GDP based on PPP.
However, the difference between the economies in terms of nominal GDP
remains large with China's $11.3 trillion economy. The Chinese economy
has long been known for its strong growth, a growth of over 7% even in
recent years. However, the country saw its exports projected to grow
only by 1.9% in 2016, and total GDP growth has gone down to 6.5% and is
projected to slow to 5.8% by 2021. The
country's economy is propelled by an equal contribution from
manufacturing and services (45% each, approximately) with a 10%
contribution by the agricultural sector.

Japan
Japan’s economy currently ranks third in terms of nominal GDP, while
it slips to fourth spot when comparing the GDP by purchasing power
parity. The economy has been facing hard times since 2008, when it was
first showed recessionary
symptoms. Unconventional stimulus packages and combined with subzero
bond yields and weak currency have further strained the economy (for
related reading, see: Japan's economy continues to challenge Abenomics).
Economic growth is once again positive, to just over 0.5% in 2016;
however it is forecasted to stay well below 1% during the next six
years. The nominal GDP of Japan is $4.73 trillion, its GDP (PPP) is
$4.93 trillion, and its GDP (PPP) per capita is $38,893.

Germany
Germany is Europe’s largest and strongest economy. On the world
scale, it now ranks as the fourth largest economy in terms of nominal
GDP. Germany’s economy is known for its exports of machinery, vehicles,
household equipment, and chemicals. Germany has a skilled labor force,
but the economy is facing countless of challenges in the coming years
ranging from Brexit, the greek debt crisis to the refugee crisis (for
related reading, see: 3 economical challenges Germany faces in 2016). The
size of its nominal GDP is $3.49 trillion, while its GDP in terms of
purchasing power parity is $3.97 trillion. Germany’s GDP (PPP) per
capita is $48,189, and the economy has moved at a moderate pace of 1-2%
in recent years and is forecasted to stay that way.

United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, with a $2.65 trillion GDP, is currently the
world’s fifth largest. Its GDP in terms of PPP per capita is $42,513.
The economy of the UK is primarily driven by services, as the sector
contributes more than 75% of the GDP. With agriculture contributing a
minimal 1%, manufacturing is the second most important contributor to
GDP. Although agriculture is not a major contributor to GDP, 60% of the
U.K.’s food needs is produced domestically, even though less than 2% of
its labor force is employed in the sector. After the referendum in June
2016 when voters decided to leave the European Union, economic prospects
for the UK are highly uncertain, and the UK and France may swap places.
The country will operate under EU regulations and trade agreements for
two years after the formal announcement of an exit to the European
Council, in which time officials will work on a new trade agreement.
Economists have estimated that Brexit could result in a loss of anywhere
from 2.2-9.5% of GDP long term, depending on the trade agreements
replacing the current single market structure. The IMF, however,
projects growth to stay between 1.05-1.09% in the next five years.

France
France, the most visited country in the world, today has the sixth
largest economy with a nominal GDP of $2.48 trillion. Its GDP in terms
of purchasing power parity is around $2.73 trillion. France has a low
poverty rate and high standard of living, which is reflected in its GDP
(PPP) per capita of $42,384. The country is among the top exporters and
importers in the world. France has experienced a slowdown over the past
few years and the government is under immense pressure to rekindle the
economy, as well as combat high unemployment
which stood at 9.8% in 2016 (a slight drop from 10.35% in 2015).
According to IMF forecasts the country's GDP growth rate is expected to
rise over the next five years, and unemployment is expected to continue
to go down.

India
India ranks third in GDP in terms of purchasing power parity at $8.7
trillion, while its nominal GDP puts it in a seventh place with $2.25 trillion.
The country’s high population drags its GDP (PPP) per capita down to
$6,658. India’s GDP is still highly dependent on agriculture (17%),
compared to western countries. However, the services sector has picked
up in recent years and now accounts for 57% of the GDP, while industry
contributes 26%. The economy’s strength lies in a limited dependence on
exports, high saving rates, favorable demographics, and a rising middle
class. India recently overtook China as the fastest growing large
economy.

Italy
Italy’s $1.8 trillion economy is as of this writing the world’s
eighth largest in terms of nominal GDP. Italy is among the prominent
economies of the Eurozone, but it has been impacted by the debt crisis in the region. The economy suffers from a huge public debt estimated to be about 133% of GDP, and its banking system is close to a collapse and in need of a bailout/bail-in.
The economy is also facing high unemployment, but saw a positive
economic growth in 2015 for the first time since 2011, which is
projected to continue. The government is working on various measures to
boost the economy that has contracted in recent years. The GDP measured
in purchasing power parity for the economy is estimated at $2.22
trillion, while its per capita GDP (PPP) is $36,313.

Brazil
With its $1.77 trillion economy, Brazil now ranks as the ninth
largest economy by nominal GDP. The Brazilian economy has developed
services, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors with each sector
contributing around 68%, 26%, and 6% respectively. Brazil is one of the BRIC
countries, and was projected to continue to be one of the fastest
growing economies in the world. However, the recession in 2015 caused
Brazil to go from seventh to ninth place in the world economies ranking,
with a negative growth rate of 3.2%. The IMF does not expect positive
growth until 2017, and the unemployment rate is expected to grow to over
11% during the same time period before it declines again. The Brazilian
GDP measured in purchasing power parity is $3.1 trillion, while its GDP
per capita (PPP) is $15,211.

Canada
Canada has recently pushed Russia off the top 10 list with a nominal
GDP of $1.53 trillion. Canada has a highly service oriented economy, and
has had solid growth in manufacturing as well as in the oil and
petroleum sector since the Second World War. However, the country is
very exposed to commodity prices, and the drop in oil prices kept the
economy from growing more than 1.2% in 2015 (down from 2.5% in 2014).
The GDP measured in purchasing-power parity is $1.7trillion, and the GDP
per capita (PPP) is $46,239.
The nominal GDP of the top 10 economies adds up to over 66% of the
world’s economy, and the top 15 economies add up to over 75%. The
remaining 172 countries constitute only 25% of the world’s economy.

And Looking Forward …
Some other economies that are a part of the “trillion-dollar” club
and have the potential to make it to the top 10 going ahead are South
Korea ($1.4 trillion), Russia ($1.26 trillion), Australia ($1.25
trillion), Spain ($1.25 trillion), and Mexico ($1.06 trillion).

By the year 2020, a great shift will
have occurred in the worldwide balance of economic power. Most of the
economies in the current top 10 list are developed countries in the
western world. But analysts predict emerging market economies will become some of the most important forces in the next few years.

The Top Economies of 2021

The rising importance of emerging market
economies in 2021 will have broad implications for the world’s
allocation of consumption, investments and environmental resources. Vast
consumer markets in the primary emerging market economies will provide
domestic and international businesses with many opportunities. Although
income per capita will remain the highest in the world's developed
economies, the growth rate in per capita income will be much higher in
major emerging market nations such as China and India.

According to projected nominal GDP, the top economies in 2021
will be China, the U.S., India, Japan, Germany, Russia, Indonesia,
Brazil, the U.K. and France respectively. One of the major reasons for
the growth of emerging economies is that advanced economies are mature
markets that are slowing. Since the 1990s, the economies of advanced
countries have experienced far slower growth in comparison to the rapid
growth of emerging economies such as India and China. The worldwide
financial crisis from 2008 to 2009 fueled the trend of decline among the
advanced economies.

For example, in 2000 the U.S., the
number one economy in the world, accounted for 24% of the world's total
GDP. This declined to just over 20% in 2010. The financial crisis and a
faster-paced growth by emerging economies were key factors in the
decline of the U.S. economy in relation to China. In the mid-2000s,
Japan’s economy saw a slight recovery after a lengthy period of
inactivity that was due, at least in part, to inefficient investments
and to the burst of the asset price bubbles. The global economic
downturn has had a significant impact on the country because of
prolonged deflation and the country’s heavy dependence on trade.

The economies of countries in the
European Union, which include France, Italy and Germany, account for
just over 20% of the world’s total GDP. This is a relatively large
decrease from the year 2000, when these countries collectively held over
25% of the world’s GDP. The increase in average population age and
rising unemployment rates is contributing to this slowdown.

Before the Brexit vote in late June 2016, the IMF issued a report warning the UK of the economical consequences of leaving the EU. Brexit
aside, the IMF predicts advanced economies will experience a growth of
less than 3% in 2020. Advanced economies are also facing challenges in
terms of public debt reduction and government budget deficits. The IMF
also forecasts that growth of Asian economies will be significantly
higher, at approximately 9.5%, and it is one of the factors driving the
worldwide economic recovery.

The Advance of Emerging Countries

Emerging economies are catching up with
the progress of the advanced world and are predicted to overtake many of
them by 2020. This will cause a substantial shift in the global balance
of economic power. China’s share of the world’s total GDP increased
more than 6% from 2000 to 2010. As already noted, by some calculations,
China is already ranked as the largest economy in the world.

Many analysts foresee India surging in
growth and taking over Japan’s place as the third largest economy in the
world by 2020. Some believe India may grow even more rapidly and push
the U.S. into third place. Analysts point out India’s young and
faster-growing population as key factors in the rate of growth for this
country’s economy.

Russian and Brazilian growth potential
is great, as both countries are two of the world’s largest exporters of
natural resources and energy. However, in the future, the lack of
economic diversification in Russia may be likely to cause the country
some difficulty with continued growth.

Analysts also expect that by 2020,
Mexico will have the 10th largest economy by GDP measured at PPP terms.
The country’s proximity to the U.S., growing business and trade deals
with the U.S. and a growing population will aid its economic
development.

Implications of the Economic Shift

As household incomes rise and populations expand, the service and consumer goods
markets will present exponential opportunities in emerging markets.
More specifically, luxury goods will have opportunities in these markets
as more families reach the middle class.

One of the biggest implications is the
importance placed on younger consumers. Though in some emerging
countries, including China, the population is aging, the populations of
emerging markets are overall significantly younger than those of people
in advanced economies. Young consumers also represent substantial power
over purchases, particularly large items such as cars and homes, as well
as the items needed to furnish homes.

Emerging countries are likely to become
important foreign investors. The foreign investments they are
responsible for making only serve to enhance their influence in the
global economy. Investments from foreign countries, including those from
advanced nations, will also flow more readily into these developing
nations, further driving their economies toward future growth.

Exchange with Mohamed El-Erian

Mohamed El-Erian

The reason I put a picture of Mohamed El-Erian at the top of this post is that his picture appeared at the top of the article copied above, in a video. I got to know Mohamed in 1992 when he participated for the first time in a FONDAD conference I had organised and of which I made the book Fragile Finance: Rethinking the International Monetary System.

Mohamed El-Erian has participated in many FONDAD conferences, and very much wanted to participate in a 2-day international workshop on "Unfettered finance is fast reshaping the global economy", I proposed in June 2007.

This is what I wrote to Mohamed El-Erian and other experts I invited on June 24, 2007:

Dear friends,
Martin Wolf has written a highly interesting analysis, "Unfettered finance
is fast reshaping the global economy", in FT of 18 June (attached). I think
it is a topic worth analysing further in a 2-day workshop with a view to
providing a profound analysis and, equally or even more challenging,
presenting possible policy responses. My proposal is to hold such a workshop
in the period of 4 to12 December 2007 in Santiago de Chile at either Cepal
(ECLAC) or the Banco Central de Chile. I hope that this will be a convenient
period for you and that either Cepal or the Banco Central will be able to
host the meeting.
Martin Wolf's article prompts analysis and policy responses on four issues:
1. WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMATIC CONSEQUENCES? Given "the transformation of
mid-20th century managerial capitalism into global financial capitalism" and
"the triumph of the speculator over the manager and of the financier over
the producer" (Wolf's words) -- exemplified by the explosion of interest
rate swaps, currency swaps and interest rate options reaching $286,000
billion by the end of 2006 (about six times global gross product), the boom
of hedge funds managing about $1,600 billion, and the vast size of the new
private equity funds and the scale of bond financing by banks making even
the largest and most established companies candidates for sale and
break-up -- what have been and will be the problematic consequences of this
vast expansion in financial activity?
2. WHAT ARE THE REGULATORY CHALLENGES? Given the liberalisation of the
global financial sector, and given that "low interest rates and the
accumulation of liquid assets, not least by central banks around the world,
have fuelled financial engineering and leverage" (Wolf's words), what can
financial authorities (ministries of finance, central banks, regional and
international financial institutions) do to reduce, turn back and prevent
the negative consequences? Wolf observes, "regulating a system that is this
complex and global is a novel task for what are still predominantly national
regulators."
3. WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES? Martin Wolf observes:
"Powerful political coalitions are forming to curb the impact of the new
players and new markets: trade unions, incumbent managers, national
politicians and hundreds of millions of ordinary people feel threatened by a
profit-seeking machine viewed as remote and inhuman, if not inhumane."
"Financial speculators earn billions of dollars, not over a lifetime but in
a single year. Such outcomes raise political questions in most societies.
... Democratic politics, which gives power to the majority, is sure to react
against the new concentrations of wealth and income. Many countries will
continue to resist the free play of financial capitalism. Others will allow
it to operate only in close conjunction with powerful domestic interests.
Most countries will look for ways to tame its consequences. All will remain
concerned about the possibility for serious instability."
4. IS A COHERENT VISION ON GLOBAL FINANCIAL CAPITALISM POSSIBLE? Martin Wolf
observes that we are witnessing a new global financial capitalism that
creates "vast new regulatory, social and political challenges". Providing
ideas to financial policymakers, politicians and citizens of how to address
these challenges may be facilitated by presenting a coherent vision on the
functioning of global financial capitalism. Is it possible to develop such a
vision? On what political and economic premises (ideals) will such a vision
and the desired policy responses be based?
In addition to these four challenges, there is a fifth challenge: the
possibility of another systemic risk episode as a result of abundant global
liquidity, the high volume of financial transactions and market volatility.
This is a large -- too large -- agenda for a 2-day workshop, but I hope it
is a useful starting point for a discussion with you about how to narrow
down and draft a more specific agenda -- if you would find my proposal
appealing. Given Fondad's mission, we should focus in particular on emerging
and developing economies.
I suggest to invite a small number of participants (about 20) to enable an
in-depth discussion. If all of you (and the others included in my draft list
of participants -- see list below) would be interested in participating we
already have 22 participants.

And this is what Mohamed El-Erian replied to me:

Thanks very much Jan Joost
The topic is an important one and you identify the key issue. I would suggest a greater emphasis on financial infrastructure aspects, including the de facto linkage with domestic markets in developing countries.
Needless to say, I would love to participate in such an event. The dates may be a big issue for me.
Best

About Me

As a kid I liked numbers and the sound of strings. I considered studying engineering but chose social sciences because of my interest in people. I combine a theoretical interest with a practical, social approach which brought me to the sphere of policy research. I am interested in reducing the disparity between poor and rich, between the powerful and the less powerful.
In 1973 and 1982 I lived in Latin America. In the mid-1980s, I was able to create an international forum to discuss the functioning of the international monetary system and the debt crisis, the Forum on Debt and Development (FONDAD). I established it with the view that the debt crisis of the 1980s was a symptom of a malfunctioning, flawed global monetary and financial system.
I was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the European Network on Debt and Development that was established at the end of the 1980s to help put pressure on European policymakers.
In 1990, before the beginning of the Gulf War, I cofounded the Golfgroep, a discussion group about international politics comprising journalists, scientists, politicians and activists that meets regularly.
The website of FONDAD is www.fondad.org